A pair of Chinese researchers have been charged for allegedly smuggling a biological pathogen into the US to study at the University of Michigan, according to federal authorities.
Yunqing Jian, 33, and Zunyong Liu, 34, have been charged with conspiracy, smuggling, making false statements and visa fraud after authorities found that Liu entered the country last year with a toxic fungus stashed in his backpack.
Liu attempted to smuggle the pathogen through Detroit airport so he could study it at the University of Michigan laboratory where his girlfriend, Jian, worked, the complaint said.
